For any runners out there, I run track, but tend to get easily injured. Shin splints, stress fractures, knee aches, whenever one thing goes away, another comes to take its place. I also tend to slap the ground with my feet. While everyone else will be silent, you can here me from a mile away. Any advice on how to change my form or any inserts or other things I might need to become injury free?
I don’t know much about running technique, but I do quite a bit of running, and I think you may find this thread about barefoot running useful. There’s a few lings to follow, and the thread convinced me to try barefoot running. The touted benefits are strengthening of the support muscles in your calves and shins, as well as improving your stride. Like I said, I’m not very familiar with it, but it’s a good place to start your research.
Do you stretch enough? I do some yoga and some other stretches which have helped me. I tend to get tendonitis, not the problems you mention.
A good book on running technique (or at least a popular one) is Chi running
Your injuries are most likely related to your pounding stride. Try practicing running as if you’re on eggshells. You might also be overstriding or bouncing into the air on each stride. When you say you run track, I assume you’re in high school or college. If so, your coach should have noticed flaws in your form. See if you have a good running shoe store in your area, the good ones can analyze your gait and offer suggestions.
Most runners will benefit from shortening their stride. Try to land softly on the front of your feet directly under you, as opposed to loudly on your heels in front of you. Barefoot running helps with this, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary. You may want to try out some shoes with a lower heel, but ultimately just wear what works once you find it.
Also, try to picture yourself from the side. Imagine the path your center of gravity traces while you run. Try to keep that path as straight as possible. Any up-and-down movement is a waste of energy and extra stress on your joints. While there is bound to be some up/down motion, the goal is to minimize it.
On preview, that’s pretty much what runner pat said.
Try to work on one small detail at a time. Each change you make to your running form requires new muscles and you can easily overdo it.
However you do it, you definitely want to address this issue. Constant injuries will tend to seriously shorten your running career, and can result in long-term problems.